Basketball is a wonderful game played by thousands of people around the world.
If you love a good game of basketball, having to travel all the way to a park or a gymnasium to play can cut down severely on your playing time.
The solution of course, is to buy a hoop for home use so that you and your friends will always have a hoop just a step away in your yard.
Here is a complete guide to in-ground basketball hoops, including our top favorite brands, why you should get one, and how to install them.
1. Pro Dunk Platinum
If you want the best of the best, look no farther than the Pro Dunk Platinum.
This premium hoop features a thick pole that will never wobble during game play.
The pole is adjustable in height, so you can lower it for new or younger people, and raise it as needed.
The hoop features a professional looking tempered glass backboard that is 72” wide.
The glass is 1/2” thick, so you won’t have to worry about it shattering from a hard hit.
This hoop feels like an NBA professional hoop, but can actually be adjusted lower than most adjustable hoops available, so even the smallest kids can play.
It lowers through an easy to use handle as low as 5.5 feet—most hoops only go as low as 7.5.
There have been some complaints about rusting from customers, but the majority report a rust free experience for years after purchasing the product.
This is probably due to the “Rust Armor” package the hoop comes with, along with a limited lifetime warranty.
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2. Spalding NBA In-Ground Basketball System
Let’s face it, we don’t all have thousands of dollars to plunk down on a great in-ground hoop, but we also want to realize our basketball dreams too.
If you want an amazing hoop at an affordable price, the Spalding NBA In-Ground Basketball System has all the minimum features required to get you dribbling, while still having an affordable price.
The pole is 3.5” in diameter, which is thick enough to hold up to daily play without wobbling. The backboard is plastic, which some critics say wobbles too much for rough play.
This, unfortunately, is to be expected with a lower end in-ground hoop.
Although the Spadling NBA In-ground Hoop doesn’t have all the bells and whistles some of the other hoops featured here has, it still features sturdy construction that will hold up to hours of play.
If you need a decent hoop on a budget, this is the hoop for you.
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3. Lifetime 71281 In Ground Power
Another great economy hoop, this one has similar features to the Spalding, but has fewer issues with the backboard.
Although it does not come with the in-ground sleeve, most customers recommended purchasing it alongside the hoop.
The in-ground sleeve makes the product much easier to remove should you ever need to, as well as making installation easier.
This in-ground hoop is weather resistant and fade resistant, for a long lasting hoop that will give you hours of practice for years to come.
Customers love the pro-slam hoop, which allows you to perform that slam dunk with perfect ease and comfort.
It is adjustable in height from 7.5 feet to 10 feet, and the adjustment system is so simple, even your kids can do it.
Although similar to the Spalding, this in-ground hoop has a slightly bigger backboard. The overall result is a quality product for it’s price range.
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4. Hercules Platinum
If an adjustable height is not important to you, the Hercules Platinum is the best overall hoop of those featured in this article.
The sturdy pole is one of the best in the industry, featuring a 6 inch square one-piece pole with 7 gauge thick walls.
Even if you like to hang off the hoop for a few minutes after a slam dunk, this pole will hold up to the abuse without so much as a rattle.
Of course, the pole isn’t the only important consideration.
If you’re worried about what all that dunking and hanging is going to do to your warranty, the lifetime warranty on this hoop specifically includes dunking and hanging as fine.
Customers raved about the durability of this product, and the overall sturdiness. One customer strongly suggests professional installation.
The product is extremely sturdy, which means its necessarily extremely heavy as well.
If you’re not careful with hanging the hoop, you could well get hurt.
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5. Goalrilla GS54 In-Ground Basketball Hoop
Goalrilla is a very popular company in the basketball community.
If you spend a lot of time learning about hoops from the people who use them most often, this brand has probably been one you have heard of before.
Goalrilla shows just why it is so popular with this solid basketball hoop.
The hoop features several wonderful features, from the generously sized backboard at 60”, or go even bigger with a 72” backboard.
The pole doesn’t require an added stabilization pole like so many of these other hoops.
It instead uses an anchoring system to keep the pole steady for basket after basket.
This hoop comes with a limited life time warranty—and something most other in-ground hoops don’t have, the ability to move the goal.
As one final feature, the Goalrilla GS54 features a break away hoop, and a tempered glass backboard.
The overall finish is an arena style look and durability that will last for as long as you love basketball.
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6. Ryval C872 Basketball Hoop
Unfamiliar brands are ones we are less likely to purchase, especially when it is an expensive product we are looking to buy.
These types of hoops are an investment, and if you are faced with a smaller company, you may feel uncomfortable wondering if they are any good at all.
Although Ryval is a relatively new and small company, it has so much going for it that it earns a place on our list.
The backboard on this hoop is 72” long and 1/2” thick—the same as our other top favorite backboards on this list.
The height is extremely adjustable on this product, and all of the materials are extremely sturdy and well made.
Customers who have purchased this repeatedly comment on how sturdy and well packaged each part of the hoop is when it arrives.
The product also features a rust guard, and a warranty that includes dunking on it.
Last but not least, the hoop is a break away style for maximum comfort and safety.
This is a great product, and perhaps their only drawback is they are hard to come by.
These hoops sell out fast when they are available, so keep checking back regularly if this is the product you are after.
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7. Silverback 60″ In-Ground Basketball Hoop
Rounding up this list is the Silverback.
This solid hoop is the perfect mid-range hoop for avid basketball lovers.
This hoop is adjustable. The height can be moved from 7.5 feet to 10 feet, with an easy to use handle performing the adjustment.
It’s construction is powder coated steel for long lasting and durable performance.
It features the tempered glass backboard favored by so many of the top basketball styles, and a flexible hoop that will bend rather than break under pressure.
A few customers complained about wobble, while others found it to be a rock solid unit.
When problems involving broken or missing parts come up, the company is very quick to send out new parts and get things straightened out, which is a pleasant change compared to many basketball hoop companies.
This product is also made with high quality materials which means it is heavy. Most customers say you will need 3 or even 4 people to install the backboard.
No one thinks it is possible to do it with two, due to how heavy and thick the board is.
While this hoop doesn’t have a lifetime warranty, it does have a limited 5 year warranty.
It’s a very reasonable compromise between a bare bones hoop with only the minimum to make it basketball worthy, and the high-end hoops with all the bells and whistles added.
There are so many different brands of in-ground hoops out there.
Some of them take your money but leave you with a product you can’t really use, and some of them are fabulous and worth every penny you put on them.
We spent hours sorting through the different in-ground hoops available so that you can purchase a hoop confidently knowing that the product you get will be something you can use.
Let’s take a look now at the advantages of owning one of these hoops, and a little bit on installation and other important information.
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Advantages of owning an in-ground basketball hoop
Basketball is your game.
You embrace it. You live it. Yet you’re limited to visiting parks or other recreational facilities in order to practice the game you love so much.
If this is you, you’re probably thinking about buying a basketball hoop for home practice.
An in-ground basketball hoop is one of the best options for the serious player, for a number of reasons.
If you’re trying to compare an in-ground hoop as compared to other styles such as a portable hoop, here’s why you should choose this type of hoop.
Space Saving
In-ground hoops don’t take up nearly the same amount of room as a portable hoop.
If you have a limited amount of room to practice your twists and turns, you don’t want that space taken up by the huge platform portable hoops need in order to support themselves.
If a well kept and beautiful yard is also important for you and your family, an in-ground hoop also looks better than a huge, bulky, portable hoop.
Safer
If safety is a concern for you, this type of hoop is probably your best option.
An in-ground hoop has more stability, which will not only allow people who like to forcefully slam dunk the ball opportunities to practice, it also makes the hoop less likely to fall over.
Stability is really important not only for aggressive play, but for safety of the people in the area as well.
More options
If you’ve had experience practicing on a lot of different hoops, you’ve probably noticed that not all backboards are created equal.
Some backboards bounce differently than others, which can alter your game play if you practice with one type of backboard and then switch to another.
In-ground hoops allow you to have a lot of different choices, so you can pick something close to an authentic backboard.
A glass backboard or something with similar bounce is very close to the feel of a professional hoop, making your practice useful when you’re in a real game.
The backboard isn’t the only thing you can customize.
Some in-ground hoops also let you customize the height, which is great if you have kids who also want to play with the hoop.
You can adjust it down for them, back up as they grow, and to full height for yourself.
Not all in-ground hoops are height adjustable, so check to see if they meet your needs before purchasing.
What you need to know before installing this type of hoop
If you’ve decided that an in-ground basketball hoop is right for you, congratulations!
You’re on your way to having basketball practice available to you 24/7.
An in-ground basketball hoop is a wonderful asset for the serious basketball player, but there are a few things you need to consider before installing your new hoop.
Check local laws
It may surprise you to learn that basketball hoops are banned in some areas.
Most of the time basketball bans are limited to HOAs, but these can be city wide ordinances.
Before installing your basketball hoop, make sure that it is legal to do so in your area.
Check for utility lines
It isn’t safe to dig at random in your yard without first calling your local information hotline to find out if there are utility lines running through your yard.
Your information hotline is a free service that will tell you where it is safe to dig in your yard, and if the area you plan to put it has any wires that could be damaged by your digging.
The service is free. In the USA you can find out by calling 811 or using the website: https://call811.com/
Make sure you have enough space to play
Having a hoop is great, but you’ll just be disappointed if there isn’t enough room to get your game on.
Find a place where you have at least 25 feet ahead of the hoop, and at least 3 feet behind it.
There should also be enough room for 3 point shots.
If the space is too narrow or not long enough, you may be better off choosing a system you can place on the street, if it is legal to do so in your area.
Setting up your new hoop
Once you’ve selected a location that is large enough for your hoop, and verified there are no utility lines directly underneath, you are ready to set your new hoop up.
The first step will be to dig a hole 48” (or the depth listed in your installation manual.)
Once dug, create a foundation in the hole with a few inches of gravel (3-6”) tamped down so that your pole won’t sag to one side.
Place the hoop in the hole and have another person hold it straight while the hole is filled with bricks and rocks to keep the pole upright and stable.
Once the pole is stable and straight, pour concrete into the hole and let it set for 72 hours.
It’s important to verify that the pole is straight before the concrete sets.
If the pole leans to one side and the concrete sets, you will be unable to fix it later.
Many in-ground poles come with removable stabilization poles for this reason, to help during the setting process.
After the concrete sets, the basketball hoops are ready for play.
How much does an in-ground hoop cost?
The cost of an in-ground hoop will vary depending on the quality and features of the hoop.
An economical hoop with minimal features could run as low as $250, while a hoop with an adjustable height and an anchor plate that renders the bricks and rocks mentioned earlier unnecessary could cost as much as $1500.
If you’re looking for a high quality hoop that will last, you should save your money and purchase the highest quality hoop you can afford.
The saying goes, “You get what you pay for,” and the same is true with a basketball hoop.
If you are passionate about basketball and will be using the hoop for years to come, a high quality hoop will last you longer and give you more quality hours than a flimsy cheap model.
It’s better to pay more upfront and get the hoop you really want, than to buy a quick fix and find yourself replacing it year after year.
For most people, a quality hoop isn’t going to be the top tier model.
A mid-range model running around $700 is high quality and will last a long time for all but the most dedicated of players.
How to pick a model
A high-priced model doesn’t guarantee that the product is good quality.
In order to ensure that you are getting the quality you are paying for, it’s important to pay attention to the features being offered.
Support pole thickness
The pole holding up your hoop is the most essential part of the hoop.
A cheaply made basketball hoop will have a narrow support pole, perhaps as small as 3.5” in diameter.
Even if this skinny pole does the job of holding up your hoop, it’s going to feel very shaky every time you toss a ball, and a slam dunk may not be possible with such an unstable pole.
Instead, choose a pole with sturdy thickness so you know it will hold up to the test of time.
Height adjustment
This may not be necessary for you if you know the setting you want, but height adjustment can be very handy if you have kids or want to practice specific things at set heights.
If height adjustment is essential to you, make sure the basketball hoop you pick has this feature.
Rim
A rim may not seem like something you need to look too deeply into, but there are still a few things you need to consider when looking at the rim.
When purchasing an in-ground hoop, make sure any metal parts, such as the spring that makes slam dunks more comfortable to perform, are covered.
Since hoops are outdoors, keeping them from getting exposed to moisture will prevent rusting and the hoop aging prematurely.
Backboard
The final consideration when purchasing a new hoop is the backboard. If you’ve ever played on a sub par basketball hoop, you probably understand exactly why this is so important.
The backboards for professional courts are required to be made out of a transparent material.
This is because the court is usually viewed by spectators at all times, and a solid backboard can obscure the view.
This usually means the backboard is made out of acrylic or tempered glass.
While you can make a backboard out of plywood or other material, it may bounce differently than it would against a professional board.
That’s fine if you just want the basketball hoop for a quick pick up game with friends, but if you plan to compete in serious games, you’ll want a backboard as close to the real thing as possible.
Conclusion
In-ground basketball hoops have a lot to offer the sports lover in your life.
Whether you’re headed for a star position in the NBA, or just want to give your kid something fun and active to do, these types of basketball hoops are a real asset.
2 thoughts on “The 7 Best Basketball Hoops In Ground”
Dennis
Pro Dunk Platinum looks pretty nice, especially if you have the shooting space available. Might have to try that one out.
Dennis
Pro Dunk Platinum looks pretty nice, especially if you have the shooting space available. Might have to try that one out.
James E.
Hi Dennis,
Yeah Pro Dunk Platinum is a great choice, you won’t be disappointed.
Best,
James